Red Wings at Blue Jackets
THE STORY: The Detroit Red Wings attempt to reverse their fortunes when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday. Detroit has lost three straight games (0-2-1) since All-Star Pavel Datsyuk underwent arthroscopic knee surgery a week ago and also has dropped three in a row on the road. But the Red Wings have won seven of their last 10 visits to Columbus and 51 of 70 overall matchups with the Blue Jackets. Columbus has lost four of five overall and four of six at home.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Detroit Plus (Red Wings), FSN Ohio (Blue Jackets)
ABOUT THE RED WINGS (41-19-3): Defenseman Jonathan Ericsson is expected to be sidelined for a month with a fractured wrist suffered in Saturday's loss to Colorado. The 27-year-old has recorded one goal, nine assists and a plus-17 rating in 63 games this season. Detroit made one trade prior to Monday's deadline, sending defenseman Mike Commodore to Tampa Bay for a conditional seventh-round draft pick in 2013. Parting with Commodore, who notched two assists in 17 contests, opened the door for prospect Brendan Smith to be recalled from Grand Rapids of the AHL. The 22-year-old Smith registered two assists in three games with the Red Wings earlier this season.
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (18-37-7): While captain Rick Nash remained a member of the Blue Jackets when Monday's trade deadline passed, the same could not be said for Samuel Pahlsson, who was dealt to Vancouver for defenseman Taylor Ellington and a pair of 2012 fourth-round picks. Pahlsson recorded two goals and nine assists in 61 games this season, his third with Columbus. The 23-year-old Ellington, who was a second-round selection in 2007, has yet to make his NHL debut. He has spent the majority of 2011-12 in the ECHL with Kalamazoo, where he has notched seven goals and 15 assists in 55 contests. The club also said goodbye to defenseman Grant Clitsome, who was claimed off waivers by Winnipeg.
OVERTIME:
1. Nash has scored three goals in his last four games tallying only once in his previous 10 contests.
2. Detroit's Jiri Hudler has reached the 20-goal plateau for the second time in his career and is three tallies shy of matching his career high of 23 set in 2008-09.